LITTLE WANGANUI RIVER EROSION

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1927, Page 2

LITTLE WANGANUI RIVER EROSION

Tito following reply from the Minister of Public AVorks lias been received by the Member for Westland in respect to the above work:—

'■ In continuation of my letter ot the 13th June in reference to the above matter, f have now to advise you that 1 have had this question further considered, and on investigation find that at the present moment the river is threatening to take a course through Spring Creek, and possibly the overflow from that may run through into the La Fontaine stream. In order to obviate this difficulty, it will' be necessary to erect a groyne near Burnside’s house.

" I would point out that the whole of the properties concerned are freehold, and that there is in existence a properly constituted River board whose duty it should he to attend to these matters. it is stated that the Rivetboard has no intention of doing any work as they cannot afford to do so. and they ask that the Government should find the whole cost of the protective work.

“ I would like to state that this is quite opposed to the policy of the Government touching liver erosion, and that as the settlers who are directly financially concerned apparently are not prepared to do anything towards the protection of their own property, I cannot recommend the Government providing any funds.”